The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-06

which had just come from the dreSsmakerS
establishment
Thank heaven, my schooldays are overm
she exclaimed to herself a few moments
later, as she arose and carefully placed the
dress on sofa near by. Tonight | shall
deliver my valedictory and bear off the
highest honors of the senior class, and he
--he-will be there to witness ALL" and the
sweet face crimsoned, although no one was
near. "Oh, l hope it is not foolish or I'M
maidenly in me to love Virgil as | do! /
cannot help IT. Oh, | cannot help it! |
have struggled hard against it, but my eff
forts have all proved futile He is so noble
and modest so handsome and intellectual,
indeed so tar above the brainless, conceited
coxcombs that infest society that / cannot
help loving him. His presence throws a
CHAIRMAN awe-over mel There is some
thing so grand about him; nothing silly or
coarse ever falls from his lips; the tone of
what he says is always noble and elevating.
Though shall receive certificate of grad
uation tonight, yet Virgil Paine is my SUI
perior intellectually; but the realization of
his mental superiority only deepens my love
for MIN! | wonder if he loves mel Oh, if
he should not Bat will discard so pain
full a thought! He does love me! Am
not the only girl with whom he aSSociatesl
He seems to enjoy my society, or why should
he come here two evenings in the week. He
loves to hear me sing and read, for he says
he does. Yes, he loves me, but, like the no
BILE, modest boy he is, he thinks it would be
breach of manlinesS to manifest any atfec-
ton for me when he is only an empIoye in
my fathers establishment l understand
him thoroughly God bless his heart"
In the meantime Virgil, his work for the
day ended, was preparing to go home. His
countenance wore an unusually sad expires
sion He think lno of his nlOthap The
disease of the heart from which she had suf
fered for years was growing more alarming
every day, and the doctor had told him the
day before that she was liable to succumb to
the malady at any moment. Milton, too,
caused Virgil some anxiety. With the adj
vent of warm weather, the little lad had
grown alarmingly thin; the color had faded
from his cheeks; his step had lost its agility;
and a wistful expression that was painful to
note had settled in the violet depths of his
lovely eyes.
Price and Walker had gone home half an
hour ago, and the only persons in the Office
We're Virgil and Fancy Brown. As the
former was exchanging his office jacket for
the one he wore upon the streets, Fancy
walked up to him and said:
well, Paine, suppose you'll escort Miss
Pauline to the Institute to-nightF' and paus-
ing for a second to stroke his moustache, the
AOP OOiAbluub0. by L dlItc, 1Ou dlG
lucky coonl D. if you amt! I'd risk
my souls salvation to have that girl as head
over heels III love with me as she is with
you! You are cutting your cards for the
half million she will get one of these days.
Ell, old pard? have tried my best to make
an impression upon her, but I'll be hanged if
she will take to me at all. She has just as
much use for me as the devil has for holy
water, as the saying is. Why she doesn't
IoIr
turned and surveyed himself in a mirror.
"She really turns with disdain when she
has to pass me, as if l cared d for her
airs
The blood leaped to Virgil's face. but be-
fore he could reply the door leading into
Mr.. Morriss' sanctum opened, and that gen
tleman appeared in the doorway.
Here is a letter for you, my son, " he said,
add essing Virgil. ut is dated - Col
lege, and judging from the superscription,
must be from Charlie.
''Ihank you, sir, said Virgil, and, going
to the nearest window, he broke the seal
and hastily perused the contents of the let
ter. Mr.. NORRIS had guessed correctly.
The letter was from Charlie 1t announced
the death of Roger Penn, who had been our
hero's bosom friend at college. The Quaker
youth had been drowned while bathing in a
creek mile or two from the institution,
and the sad event. the writer said, had
thrown a gloom over every professor and
student. 1t had even touched the heart of
Boiling McKim, who, the reader will remem-
Der, spoke in our opening chapter so con-
temptuously of the deceased boy.
ooh, Virgil" read the concluding para
graph of Charles letter, lever since poor
Rogers death the words of the Prayer
Book have been ringing in my ears: in
the midst of life we are in death. OF whom
may we seek for succor, but of Thee. o,
Lord, who for our sins are justly dis
pleased Only yesterday Roger was Strong
and lght-hearted as any of us boys and
now he lies in his grave. Oh, Virgil, feel
wretched! 1t may seem strange to you
that one as shallow and hot-headed as |
should write in this serious strain. But, my
dear boy, | am not the gay, frolicSone fell
low | used to be. A great sorrow has fallen
upon me. | am restless and depressed. 1
long after higher ana holier life. | want
to be a Christian-not a nominal one-but
one in spirit and in truth. | cannot bear
my cross alone-it is too heavy. | want as
sistance from above. Ipray several times
a day, but my prayers bring me no pea e.
try my bet not to get angry / try in
every way to be a good boy; but self-right-
eousness affords me no peace. Oh, feel
the need of a Saviors' love. Virgil, will
70 not pray for mes | am so weary-so
depressed | long SO for rest. Goodnight
Atfectionately yours. CHARLIE"
us there nothing but sadness in the
world?" murmured Virgil, as, with heavy
sigh, he replaced the letter in the envelope
and dropped it into his pocket.
Bowling coldly to Brown, he turned and
walkei out of the Office.
1t was about o'clock in the evening,
and. as usual at that hour on summer
evenings, the streets were thronged with la
dies, nurses and children, whom the Excess
sive heat had kept indoors during the day.
Our hero hurried quietly on through the
crowd, leaping now and then from one side
of the pavement to the other to avoid a
collision with a baby-car .iage or a veloci-
pede. Reaching home, he found his mother
in cheerful spirits and feeling better than
she had felt for weeks past. Yet he felt
strangely depressed. Something whispered
to him that soon he would follow that loved
form to the tomb-that soon he would be
left to struggle on through the word with
out the aid of a mothers prayers or a moth
e's counsel Tears gathered in his splendid
dark eyes, and fearing his mother might de-
tect his emotion and divine its cause. he
averted his head
Brother | wish you would hurry up and
get ready" said Milton, impatentiy. I'll
you don't mind we won't be able to get
seat. You know Mss Pauline said the ex-
ercises were to commence at O'clock"
Eyes, Virgil. you had better hurry; you
haven't moment to lose," said Mrs. Paine,
gently.
Mother, should like very much to at
tend the exercises tonight, but | feel it
L L. .lg..s.s